Expert: Joel S. Teig, DMD, Diplomate ABOMS, retired - 12/14/2009

Question
QUESTION: I am S.R. Jindal and I shall appreciate for favouring me any remedy on similar experiences and also Doctor’s advice.
I started my dental health care by one Dr.R.K. Bali, (later became President of Dental Council of India, Delhi) in 1968, when all the 32 teeth were intact and oral health was excellent. Due to wrong treatment given by him intentionally (which happens in India), dental health started deteriorating and most of the teeth were extracted by him by 1999. He inserted some implants but failed. He tried in mandible as well as maxilla causing more damage. Finally, after facing dental agony (losing all 32 teeth) I had 15 Brane mark implants inserted in London and New Delhi 3/4 years back and all are in good condition, though prosthesis have been changed several times due to incorrect manufacturing. Subsequently, about two years back I got two more implants inserted on left lower molar and premolar in Bangalore by Dr.Manjunath and Dr.Veerender Kumar who were not well experienced implantologists. They buried too deep injuring the mental nerve and due to compression I had lot of pain, numbness, tightness, swelling, burning sensation etc. continuing till today, though both the implants were removed after one year but too late. I am feeling very much uncomfortable as the saliva is also falling out over the lip while eating and speaking. The lower lip, chin and cheek inside remain not only numb and swollen but with burning sensation and tight all the time. Dr.Bali was sued. He was tense passing sleepless nights, losing customers, having guilt feeling and had a massive heart attack resulting into major cardiac surgery. Now he accepts all his mischiefs and apologizes, but too late now. I have forgiven him. Similarly, Dr.Veerender and Dr.Manjunath are facing serious action though they have returned my huge money. Dentists in India are exploiting people in a big way with befooling tactics.
I have suffered a lot having undergone numerous dental surgeries followed by frequent antibiotics, pain killers etc. during the last 10 years. I am vegetarian, teetotaler and non-smoker and I do not have hypertension, diabetics, obesity or any other health problem since I do yoga and brisk walk every morning. My age is 77. I believe in nature cure lifestyle. I consume lot of green vegetables, herbs and roughage and not taking any medicine or blood thinner even. Considerable exposure has been made due to many X-rays, CT, MRI etc.
With best regards,
S.R. JINDAL


ANSWER: S.R. - Your story is not totally unusual in just about any country in the world.  There are dentists and physicians who attempt various treatments when they have little experience or ability in a treatment.  Altough you have been through so much, you seem to now be alive and healthy.  I wish you the best.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Dr.Joel S. Teig,

I am extremely grateful to you for your quick response to my question stating my serious dental problem.  I got a sigh of relief with your words of sympathy and assurance of giving further suggestions to me about solving my oral problem, i.e. lower left cheek, jaw, lip, chin, due to nerve injury as the implantologist, Dr.Manjunath, who inserted two implants two years back was not only stupid but also a duffer caused this injury by giving wrong injection and also drilling mandible too deep for inserting implants.  He realised his blunder due to poor knowledge and little experience later and also returned my entire money with apology, but what cannot be cured must be endured but too late.  This was a bad selection of implantologist blindly by my own physician, Dr.Kadam, who is also medical superintendent in our own hospital.  I have been advised to sue both Manjunath and Kadam to ensure three years imprisonment but I have not done so far.  Please do advise me some remedial measures to get rid of my problem since you are a very senior, highly qualified and experienced doctor.

Thanks & regards,

S.R. JINDAL


Answer
S.R. - I wish there was a simple cure for your problems.  There are no simple cures.  If acknowledged and treated earlier, the nerve injury might have possibly been repaired.  It is too late now to repair the nerve.  There are neurological medications that can possibly help, but you need to see a neurologist as soon as possible.  I wish you well and hope a neurologist can help you.